Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: January 17th

And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath.- Luke 4:28.

Human nature, how low fallen in misery and wretchedness! yet how high doth it rise in pride! Though the meek Lamb of God is the preacher of sovereign grace and distinguishing love, yet the wrath of man dares to exalt itself against his doctrine. Fury burst forth like fire, vengeance and resentment break the bounds of the law of God and man, and would have instantly put Jesus to death.

Pride is the first-born of Lucifer: "Ye shall be as gods," hath tainted our whole nature with the cursed leaven, and will be the last enemy that is destroyed in us. Out of the abundance of pride in the heart, the mouth is opened against God’s sovereign grace, discriminating love, and divine dispensations. "Be still, and know that I am God," is a lesson the proud nature of man is averse to. "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy,"- Exodus 33:19 -though spoke from the mouth of the Lord, yet the hearts of sinners rise in wrath against it: they look with an evil eye upon the good pleasure of the Lord; and dare challenge and call in question his truths, and his dealings with the children of men.

Disciple, this day, a real likeness, a true picture of thy proud nature is presented to thy view. Behold thyself in thy proud brethren. See thy natural aversion to the sovereignty of God’s truths, and thy Saviour’s doctrines. All these worshipping Jews, priests as well as people, conceived wrath even in God’s against Jesus, a man who told them the truth. The histories of the Sareptan widow and Naaman the Assyrian, they were well acquainted with, but could not bear the doctrine of them. Good Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart,- 2 Chronicles 32:26 -do we not feel the stirrings of it also? O what cause, what daily cause for his practice. Stout words proceed from unhumbled hearts. When our voices are heard on high against God’s sovereign determinations, it is a sad proof that our hearts are not laid low with a sight and sense of being guilty before God. Those who challenge God’s purposes, have some plea founded upon their own imaginary goodness. "Be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."- 1 Peter 5:5.

Shall man reply against the Lord,

And call his Maker’s ways unjust?

The thunder of his dreadful word

Can crush a thousand worlds to dust.

But, O my soul, if truth so bright

Should dazzle and confound thy sight,

Yet still his written will obey,

And wait the great decisive day.

Will the Lord cast off for ever? will he be favourable no more? Psalms 77:7.

St. Paul speaks of some who had cast off their first faith. What was the consequence? having damnation. (1 Timothy 5:12.) If the power and liveliness of faith abate in the heart, a sense of condemnation will be in the conscience. Hence, enlightened, sensible sinners call in question the Lord’s love and grace towards them. They are prone to think, they have quite tired out his patience, and that nothing but wrath and misery await them. What shall we say to such? The Saviour himself speaks to them. Is it in wrath? Does he say, because you have forsaken me, I will cast you off for ever; die and be damned for your folly! I will show you no more favour? True, they have deserved this: they have reason to fear and expect this, was it not for the love of his heart and the grace of his word: therefore, they may joyfully sing,

The love divine, which made us thine,

Shall keep us thine for ever.

Therefore, love divine speaks. Grace is upon his lips. Let the children of fear and trembling hear. “Remember from whence thou art fallen.” Call to mind the loving days of thine espousal: then, thy heart glowed with love, and was fired with affections to me! I have never changed in my love to you, nor in my dealings with you: they were all in love. Repent: Change your mind, in regard to your hard thoughts of me, as though I would cast off for ever, and be favourable no more.

Change your conduct towards me: that ever you should prefer idols, vanities, (things of nought to me) and leave the enjoyment of my love to seek happiness in them. Cast off them; for I will never cast off you. Shew no favour to them; for I will shew all favour to you. Do thy first works. (Revelation 2:5.) Search my word: study my grace; dwell upon my love; meditate upon my sorrows, sufferings, and death for your salvation. Attend to the preaching of the gospel. Come to my table; come to me as a poor sinner, deceived by sin, and betrayed by folly; come to me for my promised grace, peace and rest, power and strength, to serve and obey me! O! may these gracious words from our all-gracious Lord, quicken the hope of our souls, to take up the prophet’s words, in spite of sin, Satan, and unbelief, “Come, and let us return unto the Lord, etc. (Hosea 6:1.)

The sinner who, by precious faith,

Has known his sins forgiv’n,

Is from that moment pass’d from death,

And seal’d an heir of heav’n.

Not as the world the Saviour gives;

He is no fickle friend:

Whom once he loves he never leaves.

But loves him to the end.